Dusting machine



. Jan. 4, 194.4. A. CHATER 2,338,096

nuswme MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet i .3" a 2% g "@111 M Jan. 4, 1944.

J. A. CHATER DUSTING MACHINE Filed Feb. '27, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i. :FiF: 7 4

J. A. CHATER DUSTING MACHINE I Filed Fb'. 27, 1940 Jan. 4, 1944.

'3 Sheets-Skeet 5 Kan Paien'tedilan. 4, 1944- nUs'rnvG v can a; cast r, Medina, N. 2:, assignor tuna agar-a Sprayer and Chemical 60., Inc., Middleport, N. Y.,'a corporation Application February 27,11940, Serial No. 321,121

' a '19 Claims. (01.99-168) I The invention relates to a dusting process and apparatus, andmore particularly to a process and apparatus especially designed for uniformly dustlnzpe'aches or :other fruit as they are being conveyedin' a flat-continuous stream through a fruit brushing machine or the like, such as. is disclosed in my c'o-pending application Serial No. 230,'513,

-, filed September 17, i938.v I V Oneof the important objects oithe invention is to provide means for handling the very small quantity of dust necessary fortpreserva'tiv purposes and to apply the same-admixed with a large quantity of air to objects to be treated, at

g a substantially uniform rate and with uniform distribution. It, is essential that each object receive its proportion offdust but itis also important that no object receive more than its proportion'ate :share.

I Another object is to supply the "air and dust mixture uniformly in a fiat continuous stream to anadvancing row of arti cles toibedusted. I a

d It has been found that a very particular problem "arises where itis desired to. securea light "continuous fdischarge, which problem is not met with where a larger quantity of dust is employed. Thusvwhen, an ordinary hopper, as used ina crop duster, feeds'dustfit does so, at a relatively uniform rate. This is because a sutficient number oi agitators are used, or the rate at which the agitator or'ieed" wipers' pass over the feed "opening is sufllciently rapid to maintain a substantially uniform flow of dust, one of the prob- 1 ,lems in connection with a crop duster vor orchard duster being to 'see to it that this feed is sufilciently uniform so that'there will not be any bad pufing appearance of th exhaust. 'However,

where a very small feed is required this generally requires that the feed opening itselfjbe cut down to a very small'size; .When the size is reduced- -beyond a certain, minimumior a parjtlcularjtype of dust it has been found that there fis ia serious tendency for the hole to block up and for the feed to stop or become irregular in operation. I is particularly true if there is present any lint or foreign substancerin the dust as is'generally'the case.

According to the present invention dust isintermittentiy discharged at predetermined intervals through a small opening, 01 "predetermined size,'after*which thedust is mixed with a rela-' tiv'elyilarge quantity 01 air in a large mixing chamber, where'the air and dust are violently [whirled so as to insure complete admixture and to substantially eliminate any pufling action.

feed is converted into ummmi nevi, and t emture, consisting of a relatively large quantity of air and a relatively: smallrquantity cit/dust; is

discharged from the mixing chamber'atj a p edetermined distance from the point of entry of the dust and air. The distancibetween the point of entry and .the point ofdischa'r'ge must be sufficient to insure complete admixture of the air and dust and complete uniformity of flow by the time'the dust laden air reaches the discharge point. I v. a

The intermittent feed is preferablyl accomplished, according to the present invention, by

using'a single ieed'wiper' mounted on a shaft which revolves very slowly within the feedhbpper, as compared with the extremely rapid movein the mixing chamber;

ment of the agitating and mixing elementswith-- After the mixed dust and airleave thel mixing chamber they pass into a dischar'g'ejelement designed to uniformly distribute the dust in. a

plurality of fine streams upon an advancing stream of fruit or other articles tobe dusted.

The preferred apparatus for carrying out the invention comprises a number oi'principa1 parts including first, a dust container or hopper having .a bottom opening near one end ofcontrolled "siz throughwhich a predetermined quantity of dust is discharged at regulated intervals. 'jThe hopper is provided with a very slowly rotating feed means which forces the dust toward "the outlet end under pressure while at the same time keeping the dust agitated sa es to prevent c1og- 'glng. In association with the'jfeedingmeans is a wiper member which intermittently passes over the discharge 7 outlet and removes anyobstructions therefro I I A second principal element is the air anddust mixing chamber which 'is' very large in'volume as compared with the quantity of dust introduced thereinto. Air is admitted axially to the mixing chamber and dust from the hopper is supithin mixingcham'ber the intermittent Another important element plied intermittently to the entering air stream, after which the air and dust are whirled together violently to produce complete admixture and to eliminate puiiing before being discharged from the mixing chamber; I a, z

is an elongated tubular discharge member or pipe communicating with the mixing chamber andprovided with a plurality of small openings through which a'flne fog is discharged. 7 The tubular discharge memher is designed to be placed across the inletor outlet opening of airuitrbrushin'g machine such as is disclosed for example in'my prior applicatlon Serial No. 230,513 referred to above. The

discharge pipe is preferably connected to apair of outlets with which the mixing chamber is provided through flexible metal pipes or hose, so

that the discharge element may be readily brought into proximity to the inlet or outlet of the brushing machine.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which a specific embodiment of the inventive thought is set forth by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in side elevation an partly in longitudinal vertical section showing the feed hopper, mixing chamber and discharge element of the improved dusting apparatus.

outlet end of the chamber. As shown a power shaft 20 extends axially through the cylinder,

being Journaled' in the ends thereof and a fan runner 2| is mounted on the shaftnearthe inlet Fig. 2 is a viewpartly in and elevation and;

partly in vertical section on line 2--2 of Fig. l,-

' and showing the adjustable outlet from the feed ho r.

3 is a front elevation showing the dusting apparatus applied to a fruit brushing machine.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 5 is a detailed view on an enlarged-scale, partly in section and partly in side elevation showing a portion of the brushing machine and the tubular discharge nozzle, the dusting machine located in close proximity to the inlet end thereof.

Referring in detail to the drawings thereference numeral III denotes a hopper or dust containerpreferably mounted upon suitable stand- 4 ards' I 0a, which hopper is provided with a curved bottom substantially semi-circular in profile. The hopper is initially filled with dust to the level indicated. Near one end of the hopper is a bottom discharge opening II, the eflective size of which is controlled by suitable means such as a slide i2 shown a in the form of a strap having a hole l2a therein, the slide being held against the --bottom of the hopper by spring tension. Thev slide may be of the type disclosed in my application Serial No. 136,960, filed April 14, 1937. The position of the hole in the slide maybe altered with reference to the position of the bottom opening in the hopper by moving one of a pair of handles it. thus regulating the feed of dust.

As shown the dust is fed toward the outlet opening by suitable means mounted upon a continuously rotating shaft ll journaled within the hopper. As shown the feed mechanism is in the form of a rake carried by arms II, II adjustably mounted near opposite ends ofthe shaft ll. The rake includes a plurality of curved rake teeth II set at an angle to a bar or rod H which is adjustably connected to the arms IS, IS. One end ll of the bar ll extends beyond the rake teeth and serves as a feed wiper. The shaft is designed to be rotated at a relatively low speed, approximately 2427 R. P. M."and as it revolves the rake teeth force the dust or powder forwardly under pressure toward the discharge aperture. Each time the feed wiper passes across the opening a predetermined quantity of dust is forced therethrough.

Below the dust container or hopper is located an air and dust mixing chamber l3, shown as cylindrical in form, into one end of which air is continuously admitted and dust is intermittently introduced while from the other end mixed dust and air are continuously discharged. Suitable means are provided within the cylindrical chamber for thoroughly mixing the air and dust and advancing the same from the inlet toward the continuous streams through'apair of end outlets 2!, located at opposite sides of the shaft end; of chamber, and an additional member s adaptedtc secure complete admixture of the air and dust and to assist in the whirling movement, o

is also mounted uponthe shaft 20. This additional mixing member comprising the assembly 22 is secured to the shaft just beyond the fan element and extends to the outlet end. Air is admitted axially to the chamber through an inlet.

22 and the fan runner serves to draw such airinto y u the chamber and to force it toward outlets at theopposite end. Dust from the hopper Hi is intermittently supplied vto the entering air stream j through a passage 24 and-thisdust iscompletely and thoroughly mixed with the. air bymeans of the fan runner 2| and the auxiliary miidngjassembly 22 before the mixture is discharged in I intermittent dust feeding mechanism and'the feed wiper may be driven from the same source of power as the shaft 20 through suitable reducing mechanism 21. For best results it is desirable that the shaft 20 on which are mounted the fan 7 runner and air and dust mixing instrumentalitles should rotate at a relatively rapid rate, approxi-' mately 2300 R. P. M. being satisfactory, while the shaft H on which are mounted the dust feeding member l6 and the wiper I0 is preferably rotated at a relatively low speed within the range of 24 to 27R.P.M.

Connected to the outlets 2!. 28 of the mixing chamber it is a special distributor member which is adapted to discharge dust and air in the'form of a fog through a plurality of outlet'openings. As

shown the distributor isin the form of a contin: uous tubular member. including a straight portion as having a plurality of small aligned dis- 3 charge apertures 29 therein anda pair of flexible members 30, 30 which connect with the outlets 25, 25. Preferably the members 20, II are in .the form of flexible metal tubes so that the dis-. tributor may be placed in any desired position on the level with, above, or below the mixing chamher. The straight portion 28 of the distributor is preferably in the form of a rigid tube and maybe rotated axially so as to bring the line of apertures- 29 into any desired angular position.

The distributing member may be employed for supplying a preservative dust such as sulphur or the like to peaches or other fruit mounted upon the carrier of a fruit brushing machine, generally designated at A, such as that disclosed in myapplication Ser. No. 230,513, as illustrated'in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, whereby the fruit is conveyed in a flat continuous stream into proximity to the straight portion 28 of the distributor member from the apertures 29 of which dust is issuing in the form of a fine fog or mist, thereby insuring a light but uniform coating of preservative upon the fruit. Owing to the flexibility of the connecting arms the distributor may be brought into parallel relation to the moving stream of fruit and maybe rotated axially to the proper angular position, thereby insuring uniformity of distribution. The fruit brushing machine carries the fruit in a flat stream and partially encloses the fruit while beower for actuating the'shaft 22 may be sup- 7 plied from any suitable source as an electric motor (not shown), beingapplied through a drive pulley 2t. The shaft on whichismounted the 2,888,096 V ing brushed. The tubular distributing member may be placed transversely across the stream of fruit close to the point at which the fruit enters the enclosure or adjacent the point at which the fruit leaves the enclosure' The fruit brushing machine includes fruit carrying and brushing elements comprising a plurality of transverse ro tating brushes 40 on a lower level and yielding fruit contacting elements 4| positioned above the brushing elements and partially enclosing the I The dusting machine as herein described is capable of continuously discharging a very small quantity of dust producing the eflect of a fine iog which is sometimes diflicult to detect with the eye 'as it comes through the minuteholes 29 in the discharge pipe. In order to make an ordinary duster feed such a small quantity of dust it a would be necessary to use an extremely fine opening or feed hole. 'Thismight be on the order of I; of an inch in diameter or the like. It has been found that a hole as small as this will not function properly but will clog up especially if any lint or foreign matter is present in the dust.- The present device,.however, will discharge an extremely small quantity oi dust owing to the intermittent feed and the slow rate at which the agitator shaft I4 is revolved, this being from .24 to 27 R. P. -M. and providing iromfl lto 27 impulses to the dust per minute. Accordingly it is possible to open the discharge outlet from the hopper considerably more than would be possible if there were a larger number-of teed wipers or if the agitator'shaft were revolved at a" greater speed. By the use of a'single teed wiper l8. and' rotating theshaft ll at-slow speed the dust is discharged -at relatively long intervals into the air-.streamentering the mixer. In operation it has been found that from to 1 teaspoon of dust is dumped through the; discharge opening H 'at each revolution of the wiper and no further dust will be discharged until the feedwiper comes around again on the next revolution. As this, dust is fed into the mixing chamber IS the fan 2| andauxiliary mixing. element 22 produce a vortex which tends to even out the discharge of 'dustn'That is to say'the mixing elements thoroughly mingle the airand dust within thelarge chamber 18 and by the time the mixture has reached the outlet end the flower dust'is no longer intermittent but is continuous owing to the fact that the dust particles are thoroughly mingledwith the air. j' v .By the use of the present device spoilage oi fruit after packing may be completely eliminated. Y For example, brown rot, a disease that attacks peaches even after packing, may beprevented.

- I A thin even coating of sulphur dust such as may be supplied by the present device protects the fruit against possible loss from this disease. The dust is easily, evenly and harmlessly applied by Being particularly de-v signed to operate in connection with peach siz the "dusting machine.

ing and brushing equipment it delivers'through the flexible tubes and perforated discharge pipe a thin smoke-like discharge or sulphur dust at the entrance to or exit from the brushes. Thorough and even distribution is insured according to the present unique construction whereby poundage may be accurately regulated to deliver from three to ten pounds of dust per hour, depending on the position of the slide which controls the discharge outlet from the hopper. Fruit passing through the brushing equipment which is supplied with dust from, the present device has thesame ap 5 pearance as fruit which has not been dusted but a' sufiicient coating of sulphur dust has been"ap-' plied to prevent normal development of brown rot infection. The coating, howevenis practichamber, thoroughly mixing the dust with air in. I said chamber, and continuously discharging, the mixture: under' pressure irom said chamber ,through a restricted orifice to articles to be dusted. Y I

.2. A process for dusting fruit and the like comprising intermittently discharging predetermined quantities'of dust from a dust container into a mixing chamber, thoroughly mixing said air and dust, and discharging said mixture in a substantially constant stream of maintained dust content.

3. A process for dusting fruit and the like comprising intermittently discharging predetermined quantities of dust from a dust container into a mixing chamber, thoroughly'mixing said air and dust, and discharging said mixture in a substantially constant stream of maintained dust content, and directing the discharged mixture onto articles tobedusted; -4.A process for dusting fruit and the like which comprises conveying fruit in a flat stream past a tranversely positioned tubular member having 4 openings in the side toward the fruit, .and'discharging continuous streams of dust laden air 'up0nsaidfruit.- H 5.. In a dusting machine, a dust supply chamber and a mixing chamber having a small connecting passage therebetween, means for intermittently feeding dust from the supply chamber to the mixinlet, means for rapidly revolving air and dust ,withinsaid mixing chamber to thoroughly minglev thesame, and a discharge outlet for the mixedair anddust... 6. In a dusting machine, a container for dust,

means for intermittently" feeding a predetermined 1 amount of dust fromsaid container, anenclosed mixing chamber, an inlet for air into said chamber, means for delivering dust from said'container into said mixing chamber, means for rapidly revolving air and dust in said chamber, a discharge outlet from said chamber at'a predetermined distance from the axis of revolution of said air and mean for causing air to flow thru said container.

7. In a dusting machine, a container for dust,

5' an outlet in said container, means fordischarging predetermined amount or'dust at predetermined container;

mittently supplying dust to an enlarged mixing ing chambensaid mixingchamber havingan air I 8. In a dusting machine, a cylindrical air and dust mixing chamber, a shaft journaled to revolve substantially at the axis, of said chamber, means revolving with said shaft to whirl the air in said chamber, an inlet for air in one end and an outlet for mixed air and dust at the other end oi. said chamber, a container for dust with an outlet leading to said mixing chamber, means for periodically feeding predetermined quantities of dust from said container into said chamber, and means for causing air to flow thru said chamber.

9. In a dusting device, a cylindrical air and dust mixing chamber, a shaft journale'd to revolve substantially at the axis of said chamber, an axial air inlet at one end of said chamber, a fan runner mounted in the chamber on saidshaft near said inlet, additional means carried by said shaft for revolving air in the chamber, and an outlet in the end of said chamber opposite said inlet, means for revolving said shaft, a container for dust having a restricted passage leading to said mixing chamber, and means for intermittently discharging predetermined amounts of dust from said container to said mixing chamber.

10. In a dusting machine, a container for dust having a curved bottom, an outlet in said bottom, means for varying the size or said outlet, a shaft parallel to the curved bottom of said container, an agitator with inclined surfaces for forcing the dust to the outlet end of the container, carried by said shaft, a feed wiper carried by said shaft positioned to pass over said outlet as the shaft revolved; a cylindrical mixing chamber, a shaft journaled to revolve substantially at the axi of said chamber, an axial air and dust inlet at one end, a fan runner in the chamber on said shai't adjacent said inlet, additional means carried by said shaft for revolving the air in the chamber, an air and dust outlet in the end of the chamber opposite the inlet, means for revolving the agitator shaft in said container slowly and for revolving the fan shaft in said chamber rapidly whereby relatively heavy intermittent discharges of dust from the container are discharged as a light substantially continuous stream from the mixing chamber.

11. In a dusting machine, a container for dust, a. cylindrical air and dust mixing chamber having a shaft journaied to revolve substantially at its axis, means carried by said shaft to revolve air in said container, a combined air and dust inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end of said chamber, means for intermittently feeding predetermined quanitities of dust from said container into said chamber thru said inlet, a tube with openings in its exterior for placement adjacent articles to be dusted, flexible means for conveying the discharge from said chamber into said tube, and means for conveying articles to be 7 dusted past said tube.

12. In a dusting machine, a container for dust,

I an enclosed air and dust mixing chamber, means 'means for causing a flow of air thru said chamber from said inlet to said outlet, said outlet being small enough with respect to the volume of said chamber to cause a relatively low velocity of air thru said chamber and a relatively high velocity thru said outlet whereby the controlled intermittent feed of dust is converted into a substantially constant but light discharge.

14. In a device of the character described, means for conveying fruit in a flat stream, a tubular member positioned transversely in proximity to said fruit stream, openings in said tubular member in the side toward the fruit; and means for blowing a stream of dust ladened air into said tubular member.

15. In a fruit brushing machine carrying fruit in a flat continuous stream, means partially enclosing the fruit above and below, a tubular memher in proximity to the fruit, openings in the walls of said tubular member and means forblowing a stream of dust into said tubular inember for discharge thru said openings- I 16. In a, fruit brushing machine carrying fruit in a flat stream, means partially enclosing the fruit above and below while being brushed, a tubular member in proximity to the fruit, openings in the walls of the tubular member, means for blowing a stream of dust into said tubular member, and means for exhausting dust ladened air from said partial fruit enclosure.

17. In a fruit brushing machine carrying fruit in a fiat stream, means partially enclosing the fruit while being brushed, a tubular member placed transversely across the stream of fruit close to the point at which the fruit enters the enclosure, perforations in the walls of the tubular member, means for blowing a stream of dust thru said tubular member, for discharging thru said perforations, and means for exhausting dust ladened air from said enclosures.

18. In a fruit brushing machine carrying fruit in a flat stream, means partially enclosing the fruit while being brushed, a tubular member placed transversely across the stream of fruit close to the point at which the fruit leaves the enclosure, perforations in the walls of the tubular member, means for blowing a stream of dust thru said tubular member for discharging thru said perforations, and means for exhausting dust ladened air from said enclosures.

' 19, A fruit dusting machine adapted for use in connection with a means for conveying fruit in a flat stream, comprising a mixing chamberfor thoroughly mingling air and dust, having a pair of outlets at one end thereof, and a flexible tube having its ends connected to said outlets, and including a straight perforated portion adapted to be brought into proximity with the stream of fruit, whereby the entire stream may be dusted.

JOHN A. CHA'IER. 

